Dodgers lose Ramirez for eight weeks

TUCSON, Ariz. – Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday on his injured right thumb and is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.

The Dodgers said Thursday that an MRI indicated that a ligament in Ramirez’s thumb was torn.

Ramirez suffered the injury Tuesday night while playing for the Dominican Republic in its victory over Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic championship game in San Francisco.

Ramirez was at third base when he suffered the injury. The Dodgers moved him to shortstop, his original position, after obtaining him from the Miami Marlins on July 25.

Dr. Steve Shin, a sports-medicine hand specialist, is scheduled to perform the surgery in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday for a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs.

Jeter to play on in minor league games: New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says shortstop Derek Jeter will play only in minor league spring training games for the rest of spring training.

The move could cut short how much time Jeter would miss if he starts the season on the 15-day disabled list. By not playing in major league exhibitions, the Yankees want to be able to adjust Jeter’s start time on the DL if that’s necessary.

“I think we need the ability to preserve to back date him in the event that’s he not going make it,” Cashman said.

Jeter missed his third straight exhibition game Thursday because of inflammation in his surgically repaired left ankle. He expects to resume baseball activities on Friday.